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MCS Christopher Shimana/U.S. Navy photo
Cmdr. Paul Olin, director of TOPGUN, presents Brett Bailey a TOPGUN staff photo during Brett's tour of the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center.
The Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center and Naval Air Station Fallon partnered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation's Los Angeles chapter to help make Brett Bailey's wish of flying in a jet come true during a recent tour of the facility.
The 7-year-old from Los Angeles was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a soft-tissue cancer, last year. He was referred to the Make-A-Wish Foundation because of his life-threatening medical condition, and in August, he told his wish-granting volunteers what he wanted for his wish — to be a pilot.
“Brett was nominated and accepted to the Make-A-Wish Foundation back in February/March 2009,” said Brett's mother, Adele. “He moved up on their action list in late August due to unexpected complications with his health combined with a short recovery and travel window. When that happened, the Make-A-Wish Foundation moved in to high gear.
“Brett's initial Make-A-Wish interview, where they asked him what he wanted for his wish, was August 23. His decision for his wish to be a pilot came about a week after that, and within another week, the Make-A-Wish Foundation they had begun making arrangements with the Navy.”
In keeping with naval tradition, NSAWC's partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation moved “full speed ahead.”
“From identifying his wish to be a pilot to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and NSAWC putting his visit together took less than a month. Really, only a couple of weeks,” said Adele. “Extremely fast and efficient. To say that we were impressed understates our feeling of how quickly and well things were put together.”
After helping raise the United States flag and observing morning colors, Brett was presented his personal U.S. Flag and commemorative certificate by Legalman 1st Class Petty Officer Valentine Charles and Navy Counselor 1st Class Petty Officer John Karadeema. Brett and his family next met with NSAWC Commander Rear Adm. Mark Fox, Deputy Commander Capt. Mike Cross and Command Master Chief Neal Johnson to be officially welcomed aboard NSAWC. The family was presented official command ball caps and a customized flight jacket was presented to Brett.
The Baileys' next tour stop was to hangar five for an up-close view of NSAWC F/A-18F Super Hornet, F-16 Viper, E-2C Hawkeye and an SH-60F Seahawk on display. Brett was able to board the Hawkeye and Seahawk as well as view the cockpits of the Super Hornet and Viper.
Following the Bailey family's hangar tour, they were escorted to the Fleet Training building to meet the staff of TOPGUN. Cdr. Paul Olin, department head commander of TOPGUN, presented Brett a special TOPGUN photo signed by the staff and escorted Brett to ride and operate the F-16 Viper simulator.
“We were very happy to have the chance to host Brett and his family,” said TOPGUN staff member Chief Operations Specialist Wes Plount. “The look on his face and in his eyes while he was in the F-16 simulator put smiles on the faces of everyone in the room.”
“Without question, the highlight for Brett was flying the Top Gun F-16 simulator,” said Adele. “Following that in order, going on the real planes on the flight line, in particular the FA-18 jet. “
Following their visit to TOPGUN, the family was treated to a pizza luncheon in the NSAWC headquarters building.
The next day, Brett was given a tour of the NSAWC Joint Close Air Support building and met with SEAL JCAS instructors where he was able to view some of the equipment used in special warfare. Capping off his visit, Brett and his family were given a tour of the NAS Fallon Air operations observation tower to view flight operations and see Fallon's Air Traffic Controllers at work.
The Bailey's visit to NSAWC and NAS Fallon will give Brett memories for years to come. “Meeting all of the pilots and Navy SEALS, whom he is now referring to as his pilot friends,” said Adele. “From my perspective, it was the incredible attention, time and compassion shown to him from everyone. He doesn't really understand the concept of ranks but the time Rear Adm. Mark Fox spent with us was a big surprise and very generous.”
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Founded in 1980 when a group of caring volunteers helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is now the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 65 chapters in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and nearly 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants a wish every 40 minutes and has granted more than 185,000 wishes in the United States since its inception.
For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit www.wish.org and discover how you can share the power of a wish®.
The Make-a-Wish Foundation is a nonprofit organization that has granted wishes to more than 180,000 children with life-threatening medical conditions nationwide. Founded in 1980, Make-a-Wish uses outside donations and volunteers to grant a wish to sick children every 40 minutes.
The Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center is the center of excellence for naval aviation training and tactics development in integrated strike warfare, weapons employment, irregular warfare and maritime and overland air superiority.
The 7-year-old from Los Angeles was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a soft-tissue cancer, last year. He was referred to the Make-A-Wish Foundation because of his life-threatening medical condition, and in August, he told his wish-granting volunteers what he wanted for his wish — to be a pilot.
“Brett was nominated and accepted to the Make-A-Wish Foundation back in February/March 2009,” said Brett's mother, Adele. “He moved up on their action list in late August due to unexpected complications with his health combined with a short recovery and travel window. When that happened, the Make-A-Wish Foundation moved in to high gear.
“Brett's initial Make-A-Wish interview, where they asked him what he wanted for his wish, was August 23. His decision for his wish to be a pilot came about a week after that, and within another week, the Make-A-Wish Foundation they had begun making arrangements with the Navy.”
In keeping with naval tradition, NSAWC's partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation moved “full speed ahead.”
“From identifying his wish to be a pilot to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and NSAWC putting his visit together took less than a month. Really, only a couple of weeks,” said Adele. “Extremely fast and efficient. To say that we were impressed understates our feeling of how quickly and well things were put together.”
After helping raise the United States flag and observing morning colors, Brett was presented his personal U.S. Flag and commemorative certificate by Legalman 1st Class Petty Officer Valentine Charles and Navy Counselor 1st Class Petty Officer John Karadeema. Brett and his family next met with NSAWC Commander Rear Adm. Mark Fox, Deputy Commander Capt. Mike Cross and Command Master Chief Neal Johnson to be officially welcomed aboard NSAWC. The family was presented official command ball caps and a customized flight jacket was presented to Brett.
The Baileys' next tour stop was to hangar five for an up-close view of NSAWC F/A-18F Super Hornet, F-16 Viper, E-2C Hawkeye and an SH-60F Seahawk on display. Brett was able to board the Hawkeye and Seahawk as well as view the cockpits of the Super Hornet and Viper.
Following the Bailey family's hangar tour, they were escorted to the Fleet Training building to meet the staff of TOPGUN. Cdr. Paul Olin, department head commander of TOPGUN, presented Brett a special TOPGUN photo signed by the staff and escorted Brett to ride and operate the F-16 Viper simulator.
“We were very happy to have the chance to host Brett and his family,” said TOPGUN staff member Chief Operations Specialist Wes Plount. “The look on his face and in his eyes while he was in the F-16 simulator put smiles on the faces of everyone in the room.”
“Without question, the highlight for Brett was flying the Top Gun F-16 simulator,” said Adele. “Following that in order, going on the real planes on the flight line, in particular the FA-18 jet. “
Following their visit to TOPGUN, the family was treated to a pizza luncheon in the NSAWC headquarters building.
The next day, Brett was given a tour of the NSAWC Joint Close Air Support building and met with SEAL JCAS instructors where he was able to view some of the equipment used in special warfare. Capping off his visit, Brett and his family were given a tour of the NAS Fallon Air operations observation tower to view flight operations and see Fallon's Air Traffic Controllers at work.
The Bailey's visit to NSAWC and NAS Fallon will give Brett memories for years to come. “Meeting all of the pilots and Navy SEALS, whom he is now referring to as his pilot friends,” said Adele. “From my perspective, it was the incredible attention, time and compassion shown to him from everyone. He doesn't really understand the concept of ranks but the time Rear Adm. Mark Fox spent with us was a big surprise and very generous.”
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Founded in 1980 when a group of caring volunteers helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is now the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 65 chapters in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and nearly 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants a wish every 40 minutes and has granted more than 185,000 wishes in the United States since its inception.
For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit www.wish.org and discover how you can share the power of a wish®.
The Make-a-Wish Foundation is a nonprofit organization that has granted wishes to more than 180,000 children with life-threatening medical conditions nationwide. Founded in 1980, Make-a-Wish uses outside donations and volunteers to grant a wish to sick children every 40 minutes.
The Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center is the center of excellence for naval aviation training and tactics development in integrated strike warfare, weapons employment, irregular warfare and maritime and overland air superiority.
